Method and system for credit card reimbursements for health care transactions

• US 7,743,979 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2008
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Fredman, Marc Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech; Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US12/131,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 705/39
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/407 Cancellation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

According to one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and a system for reimbursing credit card transactions for health care services and/or products. An exemplary method and system may involve registering a user for reimbursement wherein the user identifies one or more payment mechanisms and one or more reimbursement methods; identifying a user transaction with the one or more payment mechanisms at a merchant wherein the user transaction comprises one or more purchases; receiving merchant data regarding the user transaction; determining reimbursement eligibility of the one or more purchases of the user transaction based at least in part on the merchant data; and reimbursing the user for eligible purchases via the one or more reimbursement methods.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for facilitating reimbursements for eligible transactions, the computer implemented method comprising the steps of:

registering a user for reimbursement through an interface wherein the user identifies one or more payment mechanisms and one or more reimbursement methods for purchases, prior to a user transaction;

identifying the user transaction made with the one or more payment mechanisms at a provider wherein the user transaction comprises one or more purchases;

receiving data regarding the user transaction;

determining reimbursement eligibility of the one or more purchases of the user transaction based at least in part on the data; and

reimbursing the user for one or more eligible purchases via the one or more reimbursement methods.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one purchase is related to healthcare expenses.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one purchase is related to dependent care expenses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one purchase is related to dental expenses.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one purchase is related to eye care expenses.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one purchase is related to transportation expenses.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is received as batch data feeds from the provider.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the batch data feeds comprise line-level transaction data for the user transaction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises one or more of:

type of product, type of service, price, purpose, product code, service code, date of purchase, time of purchase, merchant data, insurance entity data and credit card company data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is from one or more merchants.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is from an insurance entity.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is from one or more of credit card company, pharmacy benefit manager and third party administrator.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining reimbursement eligibility further comprises the step of determining one or more sources of payment for at least a portion of the one or more eligible purchases.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more sources comprise one or more of:

an insurance entity, an employer associated with the user and a designated payment entity.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a partial payment of the one or more eligible purchases is made by an insurance entity.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the reimbursement method is a direct payment to the user.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the direct payment comprises one or more of cash and check.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining whether a reimbursement account has sufficient funds to pay for the one or more eligible purchases.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein if the reimbursement account does not have sufficient funds to pay for the one or more eligible purchases, a remaining amount is applied to a payment mechanism.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the payment mechanism involves an extension of credit.

21. A computer implemented method for facilitating reimbursements for eligible transactions, the computer implemented method comprising the steps of:

identifying one or more payment mechanisms through an interface of a computer implemented reimbursement system;

identifying one or more reimbursement methods through the interface of the computer implemented reimbursement system;

making one or more purchases with the one or more identified payment mechanisms; and

receiving reimbursement for one or more eligible purchases via the one or more reimbursement methods;

wherein the step of identifying one or more payment mechanisms and the step of identifying one or more reimbursement methods are performed prior to the step of making one or more purchases.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one purchase is related to healthcare expenses.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one purchase is related to dependent care expenses.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one purchase is related to dental expenses.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one purchase is related to eye care expenses.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one purchase is related to transportation expenses.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein at least a partial payment of the one or more eligible purchases is made by an insurance entity.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more reimbursement methods comprises a direct payment to the user.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the direct payment comprises one or more of cash and check.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of;

determining whether a reimbursement account has sufficient funds to pay for the one or more eligible purchases.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein if the reimbursement account does not have sufficient funds to pay for the one or more eligible purchases, a remaining amount is applied to a payment mechanism.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the payment mechanism involves an extension of credit.

33. A computer implemented system for facilitating reimbursements for eligible transactions, the computer implemented system comprising:

register module for registering a user for reimbursement through an interface wherein the user identifies one or more payment mechanisms and one or more reimbursement methods for purchases, prior to a user transaction;

payment module for identifying the user transaction made with the one or more payment mechanisms at a provider wherein the user transaction comprises one or more purchases and wherein data regarding the user transaction is received;

eligibility module for determining reimbursement eligibility of the one or more purchases of the user transaction based at least in part on the data; and

reimbursement module for reimbursing the user for one or more eligible purchases via the one or more reimbursement methods.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein at least one purchase is related to healthcare expenses.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein at least one purchase is related to dependent care expenses.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein at least one purchase is related to dental expenses.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein at least one purchase is related to eye care expenses.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein at least one purchase is related to transportation expenses.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the data is received as batch data feeds from the provider.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the batch data feeds comprise line-level transaction data for the user transaction.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein the data comprises one or more of:

type of product, type of service, price, purpose, product code, service code, date of purchase, time of purchase, merchant data, insurance entity data and credit card company data.

42. The system of claim 33, wherein the data is from one or more merchants.

43. The system of claim 33, wherein the data is from an insurance entity.

44. The system of claim 33, wherein the data is from one or more of credit card company, pharmacy benefit manager and third party administrator.

45. The system of claim 33, wherein the eligibility module further determines one or more sources of payment for at least a portion of the one or more eligible purchases.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the one or more sources comprise one or more of:

an insurance entity, an employer associated with the user and a designated payment entity.

47. The system of claim 33, wherein at least a partial payment of the one or more eligible purchases is made by an insurance entity.

48. The system of claim 33, wherein the reimbursement method is a direct payment to the user.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the direct payment comprises one or more of cash and check.

50. The system of claim 33, wherein the eligibility module determines whether a reimbursement account has sufficient funds to pay for the one or more eligible purchases.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein if the reimbursement account does not have sufficient funds to pay for the one or more eligible purchases, a remaining amount is applied to a payment mechanism.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the payment mechanism involves an extension of credit.

53. A computer implemented system for facilitating reimbursements for a user for eligible transactions, the computer implemented system comprising:

payment module for identifying one or more payment mechanisms through an interface of a computer implemented reimbursement system; and

reimbursement module for identifying one or more reimbursement methods through the interface of the computer implemented reimbursement system;

wherein the user makes one or more purchases with the one or more identified payment mechanisms and the user receives reimbursement for one or more eligible purchases via the one or more reimbursement methods;

wherein the user identifies one or more payment mechanisms and one or more reimbursement methods prior to making one or more purchases.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein at least one purchase is related to healthcare expenses.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein at least one purchase is related to dependent care expenses.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein at least one purchase is related to dental expenses.

57. The system of claim 53, wherein at least one purchase is related to eye care expenses.

58. The system of claim 53, wherein at least one purchase is related to transportation expenses.

59. The system of claim 53, wherein at least a partial payment of the one or more eligible purchases is made by an insurance entity.

60. The system of claim 53, wherein the one or more reimbursement methods comprises a direct payment to the user.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the direct payment comprises one or more of cash and check.

62. The system of claim 53, wherein the reimbursement module determines whether a reimbursement account has sufficient funds to pay for the one or more eligible purchases.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein if the reimbursement account does not have sufficient funds to pay for the one or more eligible purchases, a remaining amount is applied to a payment mechanism.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the payment mechanism involves an extension of credit.

65. A computer implemented method for facilitating reimbursements for eligible transactions, the computer implemented method comprising the steps of:

registering a user for reimbursement through an interface wherein the user identifies one or more payment mechanisms and one or more reimbursement methods for purchases, prior to a user transaction;

identifying the user transaction made with the one or more payment mechanisms at a provider wherein the user transaction comprises one or more purchases;

receiving data regarding the user transaction;

determining reimbursement eligibility of the one or more purchases of the user transaction based at least in part on the data;

determining one or more sources of payment for at least a portion of the one or more eligible purchases;

wherein the one or more sources comprise one or more of;

an insurance entity, an employer associated with the user and a designated payment entity;

determining whether a reimbursement account has sufficient funds to pay for the one or more eligible purchases; and

reimbursing the user for one or more eligible purchases via the one or more reimbursement methods;

wherein at least one purchase is related to one or more of healthcare expenses, dependent care expenses, dental expenses, eye care expenses, transportation expenses.

66. A computer implemented method for facilitating reimbursements for eligible transactions, the computer implemented method comprising the steps of:

identifying one or more payment mechanisms through an interface of a computer implemented reimbursement system;

identifying one or more reimbursement methods through the interface of the computer implemented reimbursement system;

making one or more purchases with the one or more identified payment mechanisms;

determining whether a reimbursement account has sufficient funds to pay for the one or more eligible purchases; and

receiving reimbursement for one or more eligible purchases via the one or more reimbursement methods;

wherein the step of identifying one or more payment mechanisms and the step of identifying one or more reimbursement methods are performed prior to the step of making one or more purchases;

wherein at least one purchase is related to one or more of;

healthcare expenses;

dependent care expenses;

dental expenses;

eye care expenses; and

transportation expenses;

wherein at least a partial payment of the one or more eligible purchases is made by an insurance entity.

67. A computer implemented system for facilitating reimbursements for eligible transactions, the computer implemented system comprising:

register module for registering a user for reimbursement through an interface wherein the user identifies one or more payment mechanisms and one or more reimbursement methods for purchases, prior to a user transaction;

payment module for identifying the user transaction made with the one or more payment mechanisms at a provider wherein the user transaction comprises one or more purchases and wherein data regarding the user transaction is received;

eligibility module for determining reimbursement eligibility of the one or more purchases of the user transaction based at least in part on the data;

determining one or more sources of payment for at least a portion of the one or more eligible purchases, wherein the one or more sources comprise one or more of;

an insurance entity, an employer associated with the user and a designated payment entity; and

determining whether a reimbursement account has sufficient funds to pay for the one or more eligible purchases; and

reimbursement module for reimbursing the user for one or more eligible purchases via the one or more reimbursement methods;

wherein at least one purchase is related to one or more of healthcare expenses, dependent care expenses, dental expenses, eye care expenses, and transportation expenses.

68. A computer implemented system for facilitating reimbursements for a user for eligible transactions, the computer implemented system comprising:

payment module for identifying one or more payment mechanisms through an interface of a computer implemented reimbursement system; and

reimbursement module for identifying one or more reimbursement methods through the interface of the computer implemented reimbursement system and determining whether a reimbursement account has sufficient funds to pay for the one or more eligible purchases;

wherein the user makes one or more purchases with the one or more identified payment mechanisms and the user receives reimbursement for one or more eligible purchases via the one or more reimbursement methods;

wherein the user identifies one or more payment mechanisms and one or more reimbursement methods prior to making one or more purchases;

wherein at least one purchase is related to one or more of;

healthcare expenses;

dependent care expenses;

dental expenses;

eye care expenses; and

transportation expenses;

wherein at least a partial payment of the one or more eligible purchases is made by an insurance entity.